UAE to resume direct flights from Dubai, Sharjah to Damascus June 20

The United Arab Emirates will resume direct flights from Dubai and Sharjah to Damascus beginning June 20, Syria's Ministry of Transport announced on Thursday.

Syria's national carrier, Syrian Air, will operate four flights to Dubai and three to Sharjah per week, the ministry said in a statement.

The announcement comes as Abu Dhabi and other Gulf governments continue efforts to rehabilitate Damascus, which was boycotted by Arab states and regional powers over its brutal repression of peaceful protests in 2011.

The UAE closed its Damascus embassy in 2011, however reopened the diplomatic mission in 2018.

Oman and Bahrain have also re-established ties with Syria. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, is reported to have held meetings with Syrian officials in Damascus in May, amid growing expectations that Riyadh with normalise ties.

Syria's conflict, sparked by the brutal repression of anti-government protests in 2011, has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions.

Syria was suspended from the 22-member Arab League bloc in November 2011 as the death toll mounted.